Mobile communication terminal and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A mobile communication terminal including a display unit, and a controller configured to display on the display unit both a first list including tasks that can be simultaneously executed and a second list listing currently executing tasks.

The present application claims priority to Korea Patent Applications No.10-2005-0070014 filed on Jul. 30, 2005, and 10-2006-0003590 filed onJan. 12, 2006, both of which are incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal andmethod thereof.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Mobile communication terminals provide a variety of additional functionsother than the basic communication functions. The additional functionscan also be executed at the same time, which is referred to asmulti-tasking. For example, a user can send a message to another userwhile simultaneously listening to music. The user can also download datawhile simultaneously playing a game.

In addition, the user can also display a task menu including a list oftasks. However, the task menu is displayed as a single menu and when theuser selects one of the tasks in the task menu, the information relatedto the selected task is displayed as a single screen, and the task menuis no longer displayed. Accordingly, to perform a multi-taskingoperation, the user must first confirm that a task is currentlyexecuting, display the task menu, and then select another task to beexecuted from the displayed task menu. Further, the user is unable toconfirm how the particular task is progressing.

Therefore, the related art mobile communication terminal is problematicbecause it is difficult to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Inaddition, because mobile terminal resources have to be released orallocated to display the different screens such as a task menu and atask list, resources are unnecessarily wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to address theabove-noted and other problems with the related art.

Another object of the present invention is to simultaneously displayboth a list of tasks that can be simultaneously executed and a list ofcurrently executing tasks.

Yet another object of the present invention is to display informationinforming the user on how a particular task or tasks are progressing.

To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides inone aspect a mobile communication terminal including a display unit, anda controller configured to display on the display unit both a first listincluding tasks that can be simultaneously executed and a second listlisting currently executing tasks.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a mobile communicationmethod, which includes displaying both a first list including tasks thatcan be simultaneously executed and a second list listing currentlyexecuting tasks.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by illustration only, since various changes and modificationswithin the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more compete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendantadvantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likereference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 5 are overviews illustrating displayed task menus and tasklists according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an overview illustrating displayed task menus and task listsaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobilecommunication terminal according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Turning first to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a mobilecommunication terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown, the mobile terminal according includes a controller10, an input unit 20, an output unit 30, a memory 32, and acommunication module 34.

The input unit 20 also includes a plurality of number/character,functional, and move buttons (not shown) that the user presses ortouches to enter commands or data, for example. The output unit 30includes a display such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that is usedto display a variety of menus, a status of the terminal, etc. Inaddition, the memory 32 stores programs or data for operating theterminal, data for configuring a screen necessary for the operation, andso on. Further, the communication module 34 provides an interface forcommunication through a mobile communication network. The controller 10controls an individual operation of each element and controls an overalloperation of the terminal.

As will be described in more detail later, the controller 10 controls anoperation of the terminal such that a task menu including tasks that canbe simultaneously executed and a list of currently executing tasks areboth displayed on the output unit 30. That is, the controller 10 dividesthe screen of the output unit 30 so as to display the task menu and thelist of currently executing tasks. Progress status information about aselected task can also be displayed on the output unit 30. The task menuand task list may be displayed at different portions of the terminal(e.g., on a main display and a secondary display) or may be displayedtogether on a single display.

Further, the progress status information includes, for example, a typeof the selected task, how the task is progressing including a percentageor ratio of how much of the task has been completed, etc. Also, theinput unit 20 includes up, down, right and left move buttons forscrolling through menus displayed on the output unit 30. Accordingly, auser can scroll through the displayed task menu, task list, etc, usingthese buttons. The user can also select items using one of the buttonsof the input unit 20. In addition, when a first key or button isselected an item in the task menu is highlighted and when a second keyor button is selected, an item in the task list is highlighted. Thus,using the keys on the input unit 20, the user can toggle between thetask menu and the task list.

As discussed above, the controller 10 displays both a task menu and atask list on the output unit 30. The controller 10 also activates itemsthat are selected from the task menu or the task list. Thus, as shown inFIG. 1, the controller 10 includes a decision unit 11 and a dataprocessing unit 12. In more detail, the decision unit 11 determineswhich tasks are currently executing and the data processing unit 12updates a task list based on the determination of the decision unit 11.The controller 10 then displays a list of tasks that are currentlyexecuting together with the task menu. The data processing unit 12 alsodivides the screen of the output unit 30 horizontal or verticallyaccording to an input ratio and controls the task menu and the task listto be displayed on the divided screens.

For example, when the screen of the output unit 30 is divided into twohorizontal screens, the data processing unit 12 displays the task menuon the top screen and displays the task list on the bottom screen.Similarly, when the screen is divided into two vertical screens, thedata processing unit 12 displays the task menu on the left screen anddisplays the task list on the right screen. In addition, the decisionunit 11 determines whether the up, down, right and left move buttons onthe input unit 20 have been selected.

In addition, the data processing unit 12 also outputs the task menu andthe task list to the output unit 30. Further, the data processing unit12 controls a cursor or indicator allowing a user to scroll through thetask menu or the task list and to toggle between the task menu and thetask list based on selected buttons on the input unit 20. In otherwords, the data processing unit 12 may control the task menu to belisted vertically and icons of the task list to be listed horizontally.

Thus, if the up and down move buttons are selected, the data processingunit 12 scrolls though the task menu. Similarly, when the right and leftmove buttons are pressed, the data processing unit 12 scrolls throughthe task list. The user may also press an up or down button, forexample, to move the cursor or indicators into the task menu and pressthe left or right button to move cursor or indicator into the task list.Thus, the user can toggle between the task menu and the task list usinga single key operation.

For example, when the task menu displays the tasks “TELEPHONEDIRECTORY”, “GAME”, “MOTION PICTURE”, “CAMERA”, “MESSAGE”, “INTERNET”,“MUSIC” vertically on the screen of the output unit 30 and displays thecurrently executing tasks “GAME”, “MESSAGE”, “INTERNET”, and “MUSIC” asicons horizontally in the task list on the screen of the output unit 30,the up and down move buttons can be used to scroll through the task menuand the right and left move buttons can be used to scroll through thetask list.

Further, if an icon displayed on the task list is selected, the dataprocessing unit 12 additionally displays a name of the selected icon sothat the user can easily see the operational function of the selectedicon. Also, when an icon is selected, the data processing unit 12activates the function for the selected icon. For example, if the icon“GAME” is selected, the data processing unit 12 displays the appropriatemenu for the “GAME” feature on the output unit 30.

Turning next to FIGS. 2 to 5, which are overviews of task menus and tasklists both being displayed according to the present invention. Progressstatus information is also displayed in FIGS. 4 and 6.

In more detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the screen of the output unit 30 isdivided into top and bottom screens. Further, a task menu 40 includingthe tasks: “1. SCHEDULE,” “2. CAMERA,” “3. INTERNET,” and “4. GAME” aredisplayed on the top screen, and a task list 50 including the currentlyexecuting tasks “MESSAGE,” “INTERNET,” and “GAME” are displayed as iconson the bottom screen. Thus, with reference to FIG. 3( a), when thenon-executing task “CAMERA” 51 is selected on the task menu 40, an icon52 corresponding to the selected task “CAMERA” 51 is added to the tasklist 50.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3( b) and 3(c), the up and down (▴ ▾)move buttons provided in the input unit 20 can be used to scroll throughthe task menu 40 and right and left (

) move buttons can be used to scroll through the task list 50. Also, asdiscussed above, if the cursor or indicator is in the task menu 40(i.e., the task menu 40 is highlighted), the user can toggle to the tasklist 50 (i.e., the task list 50 is highlighted) by pressing the right orleft move buttons. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3( c), when the messageor schedule icon in the task list 50 is selected, the appropriate iconname 55 is also displayed. Thus, the user can confirm the operationfunction of the selected icon.

In addition, as discussed above and with reference to FIG. 4, progressstatus information about a task selected from the task list 50 can alsobe displayed. Further, the progress state information may be displayedat the top or bottom of the task list 50, or may be displayed as theparticular icon variably changing based on the proceeding stateinformation. In more detail, FIG. 4( a) illustrates the background of anemail icon 56 being varied based on how the particular email task isprogressing, and FIG. 4( b) illustrates a section 57 indicating the taskprogress state information including the number of completed tasks withrespect to the total number of tasks. The shape of the icon may alsovariably change to indicate the progress state information.

Further, FIG. 4( c) illustrates a percentage value bar graph beingdisplayed in the section 57 in which the percentage value indicates apercentage of the selected mail message task. FIG. 4( d) shows abackground color within a circle being gradually filled according to howthe respective task is progressing. The progressing state informationthus can be displayed in a variety of methods. Further, the task menu,task list and progress information may be displayed together as shown inFIG. 4, or may be displayed on separate display portions on theterminal. Alternatively, the task menu may be linked to the task listsuch that the task menu and task list are always displayedsimultaneously together.

Turning next to FIG. 5, which illustrates a schedule task being selectedfrom the task menu or task list, and then the appropriate menu for theschedule task being executed. That is, when the task “SCHEDULE” 58 isselected from the menu task 40 (see FIG. 5( a)) or the schedule icon 59is selected from the task list 50 (see FIG. 5( b)), an activation windowof the menu “SCHEDULE” is displayed on the output unit 30, as shown inFIG. 5( c). Thus, the user can then input the appropriate schedulinginformation.

Next, FIG. 6 illustrates various displays including a currentlyexecuting task and progress state information of the currently executingtask. In more detail, FIG. 6( a) illustrates a task list 60 includingcurrently executing tasks and progress state information 71 about a task61 selected from the task list 60. The task list 60 is displayed on theupper part of the screen and the progress state information is displayedon the lower part of the screen.

FIG. 6( b) shows an example in which the progress state information 72is displayed when a multimedia file play item 62 is selected from thetask list 60. FIG. 6( c) shows an example in which the progress stateinformation 72 is displayed when a data download item 63 is selectedfrom the task list 60. Further, the user can scroll through the tasklist 70 using the left and right move buttons to select differentcurrently executing tasks. Thus, the progress state information for theselected task can be displayed together with the list of currentlyexecuting tasks.

In addition, FIG. 6( d) shows an example in which the task list 60 andprogress state information 70 are displayed on left and right sides ofthe screen. Further, a scroll bar 80 may be used to scroll through thetask list 60. Also, FIG. 6( e) shows an example in which a task list isdisplayed and the progress state information is displayed as a pop-upwindow 90. In one example, the pop-up window 90 is displayedtransparently. Also, the features shown in FIG. 6 can be activatedindependently from the features shown in FIGS. 2-5. That is, theinformation shown in FIG. 6 can be displayed by selecting a progressstate information key or menu option, for example.

Turning now to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart illustrating a method ofcontrolling a mobile communication terminal according to an embodimentof the present invention. As shown, the mobile terminal determineswhether a task progress information menu has been selected (S100). Ifthe task progress menu has not been selected (No in S100), the methodends. Otherwise, if the task progress menu has been selected (Yes inS100), the method displays both the task list and progress informationfor the executing tasks (S200).

Then, the method determines if a particular task among the tasksdisplayed in the task list is selected (S300). If a task has beenselected (Yes in S300), the progress information for that particulartask is displayed (S400). Thereafter, if another task is selected fromthe task list, the progress information for the other task is updatedand is then displayed. If a particular task has not been selected (No inS300), the method ends.

In addition, FIGS. 2-5 illustrate displaying the task menu in a verticaldirection and the task list in a horizontal direction. However, the taskmenu or task list may also be displayed in other directions such as anarc-shaped or circle-shaped direction. Also, the present invention isalso applicable to displaying other information such as email addresses,recipient names, etc. in different directions on the display of theterminal.

Further, as mentioned above, the present invention provides a novel itemselecting method in a mobile terminal. That is, the method displays botha first list such as a task menu or other list and second list such as atask list or other list. In addition, the first list is displayed in afirst direction and the second list is displayed in a second directiondifferent than the first direction. The directions may be vertical,horizontal, circular, arc-shaped, etc. Further, the first list and thesecond list are independent of each other. Thus, the user can select anitem from the first list and/or the second list.

In addition, the user can move to the first list by pressing a firstdirection key or jog key, and move into the second list by pressing asecond direction key or jog key. The first list can be a service listand the second list can be an object list. For example, the service listcan be a list of call or messages such as voice calls, video calls,e-mails, text messages (SMS messages), multimedia messages (MMS),instant messages, etc. The object list can be receiver list such as aphonebook list. The service list may also include multimedia servicessuch as viewing or playing an image or video, setting a backgroundimage, setting an incoming ring tone, etc. The object list may alsoinclude multimedia objects such as photo images, Mpeg music files, videoclips, etc. The first and second lists may also be activated/deactivatedby selecting the first and second direction keys or jog keys,respectively.

As described above, the user can view all currently executing task andtheir progress state information without changing through a variety ofdifferent menus. Thus, an unnecessary allocation and release ofresources can be reduced.

In addition, the displayed information may be displayed on a touchscreen such that a user merely need touch with his or her finger anitem/icon to activate the particular items. Alternatively, a key pad maybe used where the user presses a key to activate a particular item.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising: awireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with atleast one other terminal; a touch screen display unit; and a controllerconfigured to: display on the touch screen display unit a plurality oftasks that can be executed, receive a touch selection of more than oneof the plurality of tasks, execute the more than one selected task,control the touch screen display unit to display informationcorresponding to the more than one selected task currently executing inan upper display portion, the information being included in a screenimage in the upper display portion, control the touch screen displayunit to display more than one scrollable icon associated with the morethan one selected task currently executing, respectively, in ahorizontal direction from left to right in a lower display portion,control the touch screen display unit to display more than onescrollable progress information image near the more than one scrollableicon displayed in the lower display portion indicating more than oneprogress state of the more than one selected task, respectively, scrollthrough the more than one scrollable icon and the more than onescrollable progress information image displayed in the lower displayportion in the horizontal direction from the left to the right when ascroll signal indicating a scroll of the more than one scrollable iconin the horizontal direction is received, wherein the lower displayportion includes a predetermined number of icon spaces available for themore than one scrollable icon respectively associated with the more thanone selected task currently executing, and when a number of the morethan one selected task currently executing is less than thepredetermined number of icon spaces, a corresponding number of iconspaces are left blank, wherein when each of the more than one selectedtask is first executed, each of the more than one scrollable iconcorresponding to the more than one first executed task is added to ablank space at an edge portion of the more than one scrollable icondisplayed in the lower display portion, and wherein the controllerscrolls through the more than one scrollable progress information imagewhile the more than one selected task are currently executing.
 2. Theterminal of claim 1, wherein when each of the more than one scrollableicon is selected from the lower display portion, the controller displaysa corresponding icon name together with each of the more than onescrollable icon.
 3. The terminal of claim 2, wherein each of the morethan one scrollable progress information image is variably changed aseach of the more than one selected task progresses, respectively.
 4. Theterminal of claim 2, wherein each of the more than one scrollableprogress information image is displayed as a bar graph, a percentage, ora shape being gradually filled or changed as each of the more than oneselected task progresses, respectively.
 5. The terminal of claim 1,wherein the more than one scrollable icon corresponding to the more thanone selected task are displayed in the predetermined number of iconspaces in an order in which the more than one selected task areexecuted, respectively.
 6. A method of controlling a mobile terminal,the method comprising: allowing, via a wireless communication unit ofthe mobile terminal, wirelessly communication with at least one otherterminal; displaying, on a touch screen display unit of the mobileterminal, a plurality of tasks that can be executed; receiving, via acontroller of the mobile terminal, a touch selection of more than one ofthe plurality of tasks; executing, via the controller of the mobileterminal, the more than one selected task on the touch screen displayunit; displaying, on the touch screen display unit, informationcorresponding to the more than one selected task currently executing inan upper display portion, the information being included in a screenimage in the upper display portion; displaying, on the touch screendisplay unit, more than one scrollable icon associated with the morethan one selected task currently executing, respectively, in ahorizontal direction from left to right in a lower display portion;displaying, on the touch screen display unit, more than one scrollableprogress information image near the more than one scrollable icondisplayed in the lower display portion indicating more than one progressstate of the more than one selected task, respectively; and scrolling,via the controller, through the more than one scrollable icon and themore than one scrollable progress information image displayed in thelower display portion in the horizontal direction from the left to theright when a scroll signal indicating a scroll of the more than onescrollable icon in the horizontal direction is received, wherein thelower display portion includes a predetermined number of icon spacesavailable for the more than one scrollable icon respectively associatedwith the more than one selected task currently executing, and when anumber of the more than one selected task currently executing is lessthan the predetermined number of icon spaces, a corresponding number oficon spaces are left blank, wherein when each of the more than oneselected task is first executed, each of the more than one scrollableicon corresponding to the more than one first executed task is added toa blank space at an edge portion of the more than one scrollable icondisplayed in the lower display portion, and wherein the scrollingthrough of the more than one scrollable progress information image isperformed while the more than one selected task are currently executing.7. The method of claim 6, wherein when each of the more than onescrollable icon is selected from the lower display portion, thedisplaying step displays a corresponding icon name together with each ofthe more than one scrollable icon.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereineach of the more than one scrollable progress information image isgradually filled or changed as each of the more than one selected taskprogresses, respectively.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of themore than one progress information image is displayed as a bar graph, apercentage, or a shape being gradually filled as each of the more thanone selected task progresses, respectively.
 10. The method of claim 6,wherein the more than one scrollable icon corresponding to the more thanone selected task are displayed in the predetermined number of iconspaces in an order in which the more than one selected task areexecuted, respectively.